Superfly (band)

Superfly is a Japanese rock act that debuted on April 4, 2007. Formerly a duo, the act now consists solely of lyricist and vocalist Shiho Ochi with former guitarist Kōichi Tabo still credited as the group's composer and part-time lyricist. Superfly's first two studio albums have been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and their four albums (the third being classified as a "single" by the group) all debuted at the top of the Oricon's Weekly Album Charts, a first for a female recording artist in Japan in over seven years.

History

2003–2006: Formation

Shiho Ochi (越智 志帆, Ochi Shiho) met Kōichi Tabo (多保 孝一, Tabo Kōichi) in 2003 while they were students at Matsuyama University. They were both members of a music circle that covered songs by Finger 5 and the Rolling Stones. In 2004, the group formed the blues band "Superfly", naming themselves after Curtis Mayfield's song "Superfly". The group disbanded in 2005, with only Ochi and Tabo remaining when they went to Tokyo to seek out a label.

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who was one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. He first achieved success and recognition with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mayfield started his musical career in a gospel choir. Moving to Chicago's North Side he met Jerry Butler in 1956 at the age of 14, and joined vocal group The Impressions. As a songwriter, Mayfield became noted as one of the first musicians to bring more prevalent themes of social awareness into soul music. In 1965, he wrote "People Get Ready" for The Impressions, which displayed his more politically charged songwriting. Ranked at no. 24 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the song received numerous other awards, and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, as well as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Wildflower

A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the way it appears in the wild as a native plant, even if it is growing where it would not naturally. The term can refer to the flowering plant as a whole, even when not in bloom, and not just the flower.

"Wildflower" is not an exact term. Terms like native species (naturally occurring in the area, see flora), exotic or, better, introduced species (not naturally occurring in the area), of which some are labelled invasive species (that out-compete other plants – whether native or not), imported (introduced to an area whether deliberately or accidentally) and naturalized (introduced to an area, but now considered by the public as native) are much more accurate.

In the United Kingdom, the organisation Plantlife International instituted the "County Flowers scheme" in 2002, for which members of the public nominated and voted for a wild flower emblem for their county. The aim was to spread awareness of the heritage of native species and about the need for conservation, as some of these species are endangered. For example, Somerset has adopted the Cheddar Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus), London the Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych in Wales the rare Limestone Woundwort (Stachys alpina).

Wildflower (Hank Crawford album)

Wildflower is the fourteenth album led by saxophonist Hank Crawford and his third released on the Kudu label in 1973.

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "Wildflower is indispensable as a shining example of '70s groove jazz at its best".

Track listing

Personnel

Wildflower (Dean Brody song)

"Wildflower" is a song written and recorded by Canadian country music artist Dean Brody. It was released in March 2010 as the lead single to his 2010 album Trail in Life. The song reached number 86 on the Canadian Hot 100 in mid-2010.

Content

"Wildflower" is a ballad in which the narrator compares the beauty of his wife to a wildflower.

Reception

Roughstock critic Matt Bjorke called it a "sweet, laid-back and romantic ballad." He goes on to say that the "instrumentation is fantastic (and fiddle and mandolin-laced) while Brody’s voice - while not ‘soaring’ like a James Otto or Ronnie Dunn – suits the mood and melody of the song." Stephen Cooke of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald said that the song can also be interpreted as, "a plea for acceptance at a time when bullying and intolerance are a key concern."

Music video

The music video was directed by Jeth Weinrich and premiered in March 2010. The music video was filmed in the Mojave Desert in California.

Chart positions

References